DHS to take FISMA lead

The Homeland Security Department will take primary responsibility in the executive branch for the operational aspects for the security of civilian agency federal systems covered by the Federal Information Security Management Act, according to a memo from Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag and White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt.

Orszag and Schmidt sent the memo, dated July 6, to agencies to clarify the roles of the those organizations are to play in putting FISMA in place.

In the memo, they said that to avoid confusion, OMB will be responsible for reporting to Congress on FISMA annually, for developing and approving cybersecurity portions of the budget, and for coordinating with the cybersecurity coordinator on all related policy issues. Meanwhile, the cybersecurity coordinator will have visibility into DHS programs to ensurece FISMA compliance and will be the primary White House official to coordinate interagency cooperation with DHS cybersecurity programs, the memo said.

FCW investigated efforts by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to improve a joint data repository on military and veteran suicides. Something as impersonal and mundane as incomplete datasets could be exacerbating a national tragedy.